Innovation, technology tops agenda at SADC Industrialisation Week

The second day of the ninth Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Week in Durban has placed innovation, technology and local pharmaceutical manufacturing at the centre of Southern Africa’s industrial future.#𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 Following the official opening of the 9th Annual SADC Industrialisation… — SADC Secretariat (@SADC_News) July 27, 2026 As discussions continue at the Durban International Convention Centre delegates say building a more competitive SADC economy will depend not only on industrial investment, but also on harnessing science, technology and innovation to improve lives, strengthen health systems and drive sustainable regional growth.

The Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service says strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing must go hand in hand with internationally recognised quality standards if the region is to reduce its reliance on imported vaccines.